Community initiative successfully plants over 5,000 trees in Tipperary

Community initiative in Tipperary is successful in planting 5,500 trees in Thurles Town. 

Thurles Municipal District participated in the 100 Million Trees Project, which is a National Not-for-Profit initiative being run by Richard, David and Tina Mulcahy, which aims to plant 100 million Native Irish trees across the island of Ireland over the next decade.

The aim of the project is to increase the native Irish tree population, to add to the biodiversity throughout the country and to help mitigate carbon dioxide output in Ireland.

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The site chosen for the project in Thurles is a 2,300 square metres publicly owned site on the Mill Road, Thurles.

The initiative saw Elected Representatives, local schools, local residents, Thurles Tidy Towns and businesses come together on March 21 2025 to plant 5500 tree’s on the site using ‘the Miyawaki method’.

Named after Japanese Botanist, Professor Akira Miyawaki, who developed the technique in the 1970s to restore degraded land. The Miyawaki Method of overplanting trees has been used in over 3,000 mini forests worldwide.

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Planting excess trees together creates more rapid growth, greatly increased density, enhancing biodiversity significantly and importantly, facilitates a very rapid carbon sink.

The following is a list of the 5,500 trees planted at this site

• Wild Cherry
• European Bird Cherry
• Blackthorn
• Dogrose
• Guelder Rose
• Crab Apple
• Common Alder
• Downy Birch
• Oak
• Hawthorn/Whitethorn
• Scots Pine
• Rowan (mt Ash)
• Hazel
• Spindle

Sharon Scully, District Administrator, Thurles Municipal District states: "I am delighted to see a publicly owned site in Thurles being used for the 100 Million Tree’s initiative. I am particularly pleased to see so many schools and young people involved in the project.

"I would like to thank the schools, residents’ groups, Elected Members, Tidy Towns and local volunteers who gave up their time this morning to be involved in the project. I would also like to thank Richard, David and Tina Mulcahy for bringing their
initiative to Thurles. I hope that other groups and organisations will follow Thurles Municipal Districts example and become involved in the 100 Million Tree’s Initiative.

Tommy Barrett Secretary Refresh Thurles Tidy Towns stated : "Refresh Thurles Tidy Towns were delighted to be involved with the planting of over five thousand trees recently as part of the one million tree project. This small urban forest is located on the Mill Road. It was a fantastic project for our tidy towns group to be involved with and it was great to see so many Transition Year students from our local schools getting involved with the tree planting. We look forward to seeing the trees flourish over the coming years"